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Angola: Democratic Liberal Party (PLD), including treatment of its members by authorities (1992-2001)

There are references among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate to the "Democratic Liberal Party" and the "Liberal Democratic Party" in Angola. Acronyms vary among the sources, as does the sequence of the words "democratic" and "liberal," with sources referring to the same party as both "democratic liberal" and "liberal democratic." No information specific to the treatment of members of either party by the authorities could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Editions of Europa from1993 to 2000 refer to the Democratic Liberal Party (PLD), led by Anália de Victoria Pereira (Amália de Vitoria Pereira Simea), as well as the Liberal Democratic Party of Angola (PDLA), led by Honorato Lando (1993, 332; ibid. 1994, 344; ibid. 1995, 361; ibid. 1996, 369; ibid. 1997, 379; ibid., 1998, 393; ibid. 1999, 415; ibid. 2000, 427). In the 1995 edition the PDLA is identified as one of 14 parties in the Democratic Civilian Opposition which was formed in 1994 (ibid. 362). However, in the 1996 edition the PDLA is not listed as a member of the Democratic Civilian Opposition, comprising at the time 8 parties, but is instead one of four parties in the Patriotic Front, an opposition alliance formed in 1995 (ibid. 369). It remains listed as a member of the Patriotic Front in the 1997 to 2000 editions (ibid. 1997, 379; ibid., 1998, 393; ibid. 1999, 415; ibid. 2000, 427).

Political Handbook of the World 1991 refers to "the clandestine Liberal and Democratic Party of Angola (Partido Liberal e Democrata de Angola - PLDA) reportedly led by Pita Assesso from exile in Europe" (1991, 23). Political Handbook of the World 1992 does not mention the PLDA but does identify "the Angolan Democratic Liberal Party (Partido Democrático Liberal Angolano - PAL [sic]), led by Anália Pereira (1992, 25). Political Handbook of the World 1994-1995 identifies the Liberal Democratic Party (Partido Liberal Democrático - PLD) and states: "The PLD won three legislative seats at the 1992 poll, party leader Amália de Vitoria Pereira finishing tenth in the eleven-candidate presidential field" (1995, 29). Political Handbook of the World 1995-1996 reports the same but also identifies the Angolan Democratic Liberal Party (Partido Democrático Liberal Angolano - PDLA) and states that its leader, Honorato Lando, "captured 1.92 percent of the 1992 presidential vote" (ibid., 32). Political Handbook of the World 1997 also states that the PLD leader is Amália de Vitoria Pereira, but under the entry for the PDLA the leaders are identified as Honorato Lando and Anália de Victoria Pereira (1997, 27). In contrast, the PDLA is not listed in Political Handbook of the World 1998 but the leaders of the PLD are identified as Amália de Vitoria Pereira and Honorato Lando ( 1998, 31). The same is true of the 1999 edition of Political Handbook of the World (1999, 33).

There is information about the Partido Liberal Democratico de Angola (PLD) on the Website of Liberal International, in a section about member parties (24 July 2000). Its name in English is given as "Democratic Liberal Party" (ibid.). It is identified as an "observer' that joined at the 1999 Brussels Congress; a contact address in Luanda is provided (ibid.). Various officials of the party are identified including the Parliamentary Spokesperson (Human Rights), Analia Maria Caldeira de Victoria Pereira Simea (ibid.). However, in a document about the Programme of the 50th Congress of Liberal International, held in Ottawa in October 2000, Analia de Victória Pereria of the Liberal Democratic Party, is identified as one of the speakers (ibid. n.d.). In other information on the Website, a 4 September 2000 issue of Worldlib - News stated that the Partido Liberal Democratico of Angola had its application for full membership endorsed by the Liberal International Bureau. A report on the Website, that was last updated on 27 March 2001, identified the International Relations Secretary of the PLD, Alexandra de Victoria Pereira Simeao, as the Minister for Social Education in the Angolan national government, while the report on the PLD, that was updated on 24 July 2000, identified the same person as "Vice-Minister for Education in Social Area."

The following chronology may be of some assistance in providing information on the two parties and in distinguishing them. According to the August 1992 edition of Africa Research Bulletin, Analia Vitoria Pereira was the presidential candidate for the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL), while Honorato Lando was the presidential candidate for the Democratic Liberal Party of Angola (PDLA) (10680). A 17 October 1992 Xinhua article on election results reported that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) received 94,269 votes representing 2.39 per cent, while the Angolan Liberal Democratic Party (ALDP) received 8,025 votes representing 0.2 per cent. Political Parties of Africa & The Middle East also reported the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) had received 94,267 votes representing 2.39 per cent and 3 seats in the national legislature (1993, 9).

AFP reported on 25 January 1994 that Analia Pereira, president of the Liberal Democratic Party had complained that "the government had 'done nothing' to halt the bloodshed by police and civilians who had been armed by the authorities" in reaction to the release of a parliamentary report "on the massacre [in Luanda] of hundreds of ethnic Bacongo people and Zairean nationals from the north of Angola a year ago. ... She rejected charges the parliamentary commission laid against 'certain opposition parties,' accusing them of being 'responsible' for the massacres in Luanda in a bid to divide the country."

Televisao Popular de Angola reported on 6 April 1994 that the formation of an opposition front comprising 14 political parties included "(the Angolan) Liberal Democratic Party." The Democratic Civilian Opposition committed to joint action to achieve a number of goals aimed at stopping hostilities, including the creation of a transitional government and "the formation of a new army and police that should be free from partisan manipulation." The parties described the government, the police, and the armed forces as "illegal" and "called for the reinstatement of a legal order, giving political parties the right of access to the news media" (ibid.). Africa Research Bulletin also reported the formation of this group as well as its declaration that the government, the police, and the armed forces were "illegal" (Apr. 1994, 11405). "The MPLA reacted to the new opposition front saying their statement was absurd and that their demand that institutions be scrapped was 'tantamount' to betraying the ... Angolan people" (ibid.). The New African Yearbook reported that the "new" Democratic Civilian Opposition "held a conference and called for a peace agreement with UNITA" in March 1994 ( New African Yearbook 1995-1996 1995, 38).

Carlos Ganga, identified by Xinhua as the "acting secretary-general" of the Angolan Liberal and Democratic Party (LDP), was reported as expressing "optimism" about peace talks occurring in Lusaka, Zambia (12 July 1994).

On 27 October 1994, Xinhua reported that the "chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Angola Landu Victor" had called for "the international community to supervise the implementation of the Angolan peace accord."

Reacting to allegations in the US report on human rights about "a lack of freedom of expression in the National Assembly," Angola's Justice Minister claimed that the Assembly's members, including the Angola Liberal Democratic Party, had in fact "been very critical at times" (Radio Nacional de Angola 3 Feb. 1995).

On 31 August 1995 Radio Nacional de Angola reported the formation of the Patriotic Front, an opposition alliance of five parties that included "the Angolan Liberal Democratic Party. ... According to its members, the Patriotic Front stands for political realism, democracy and territorial integrity."

A 17 March 1996 report from Radio Nacional de Angola contained excerpts from a speech by UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, which included a claim that he had spoken to President Jose Eduardo dos Santos about a "government of national unity and reconciliation" and had "asked that Liberal Democratic Party leader Analia Filomeno Pereira join the government, but only after FNLA leader Holden and his group had done so."

A 29 January 1997 issue of the Angola Peace Monitor stated that five parties who were likely to join a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation (GURN), and which were not part of the cabinet at the time, included the Democratic Liberal Party (PLD). According to a 2 September 1997 report from i'Afrika New Network the "PLD (Partido Liberal Democratico)" held three seats in the Angolan parliament at that time.

According to a 27 November 1997 report from Diaro de Noticias the PLD was among opposition parties present at a UNITA press conference held in Lisbon.

An 18 July 2000 report from RTP Internacional Television carried comments by "Liberal Democratic Party spokesperson Amalia de Victoria Pererira" in which she said the MPLA and UNITA represented minorities of Angolan citizens and thus expressed her opinion "that other entities, such as political parties with parliamentary seats and the whole civil society should be involved in the [Peace Congress]."

A 12 August 2000 SAPA report stated the United Nations news agency, IRIN, had reported that seven Angolan opposition parties, which included UNITA and the PLD, had formed a coalition "to challenge the 25-year dominance of the ruling MPLA party." According to the report:

Analia De Victoria Perreira, president of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), told IRIN that there is a large diversity among the parties.

"We don't have the same position on all issues. We have different ideologies, doctrines and diverse political thought," said Perreira, who nevertheless argues that the diversity of the parties is less important than the areas of consensus.

"Fundamentally, we agree on peace, on war, on questions about the displaced people, education and health," she said. "Our quality is that we are going to proceed" (ibid.).

A 21 August 2000 report from Noticias de Angola stated that in commenting on a draft press law "MP Analia de Vitoria Pereira, of the Liberal Democratic Party, PLD" said that she had not liked what she had seen of it, although she had not yet read it at length.

On 14 November 2000 RTP Internacional Television carried an interview with Dr. Analia Pereira, president of "Angola's Democratic Liberal Party," an opposition party with three seats in the legislature. When asked for her party's position on elections, Pereira stated that the mandate of the National Assembly had ended in 2000 and therefore there was a need to have elections in 2000 and that the "country needs major change that will enable us to distinguish who is who in Angola and this can only be done through elections" (ibid.). When asked about the role of opposition parties in Angola Pereira said:

It is not easy being an opposition party in Angola, but I cannot say that it is very difficult. We do not have much space to operate in. At this moment there is a profound difference between the MPLA, the ruling party, and all the other parties. We were all, until recently, considered emerging, so we face some difficulties in terms of positioning, but I think the opposition has to hold on to everything that it can. PLD at this moment, for example, is taking part of its politics to the international arena. We were in Canada where we were elected vice-presidents of the Liberal International, after becoming members of this organization. We are also attempting to internationalize ourselves. What I usually tell my opposition colleagues is that we cannot restrict politics to the national level. We must call the world's attention to what is happening inside Angola (ibid.).

In response to a question about the party's proposals for the elections Pereira stated:

Well the elections on their own are already a change, as this will mean that new measures will be taken. At this moment the measures that will have to be taken are a cease-fire, and we will have to start a dialogue with the belligerents. I think that this will not be easy, but this should take place.

There has already been an initiative by the Catholic Church, and the opposition parties. So the way forward is open, and now it is time to see what we can do to create national reconciliation amongst Angolans so that just and free elections can take place (ibid.).

RTP Internacional Television reported on 20 March 2001 that Angolan opposition parties had "delivered a petition in the Russian embassy in Luanda in which they say they are against the sale of weaponry to Angola." The report noted that "the petition ha[d] been signed by all parties without seats in parliament, along with those represented in parliament, with the exception of the PLD (Liberal Democratic Party)" and three others (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. April 1994. Vol. 31, No. 4. "Angola: New Opposition Front."

_____. August 1992. Vol. 29, No. 8. "Angola: Presidential Candidates."

i'Afrika News Network, Copenhagen. 2 September 1997. "Angola: Angola News Roundup." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Angola Peace Monitor [London]. 29 January 1997. Vol. III., No. 5. "UNITA Nominess for Government Posts." <http://www.africapolicy.org/docs97/ang9701.htm> [Accessed 12 Apr. 2001]

Agence France Presse (AFP). 25 January 1994. "Police Implicated in Ethnic Massacres by Parliamentary Report." (NEXIS)

Diaro de Noticias [Lisbon, in Portuguese]. 27 November 1997. "Angola: Kapapelo Warns UNITA May Resume Guerrilla Warfare." (FBIS-AFR-97-334 30 Nov. 1997/WNC)

The Europa World Year Book 2000. 2000. 41st ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

_____. 1999. 40th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

_____. 1998. 39th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

_____. 1997. 38th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

_____. 1996. 37th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

_____. 1995. 36th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

_____. 1994. 35th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

_____. 1993. 34th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

Liberal International, London. 27 March 2001. "In Government ... " <http://www.worldlib.org/li/factfig/government.html> [Accessed 12 Apr. 2001]

_____. 4 September 2000. Issue 179. Worldlib - News. "LI Bureau Meeting in Slovenia." <http://www.worldlib.org/news/179.html> [Accessed 17 Apr. 2001]

_____. 24 July 2000. "Facts & Figures." <http://www.worldlib.org/li/factfig/pld.html> [Accessed 11 Apr. 2001]

_____. n.d. "50th Congress of Liberal International: Programme." <http://www.worldlib.org/li/congress/ottawa/index.html?programme.html> [Accessed 12 Apr. 2001]

New African Yearbook 1995-1996. 1995. 10th ed. Edited by Alan Rake. London: IC Publications.

Noticias de Angola [in Portuguese]. 21 August 2000. "Opposition Worried About 'Dictatorial Nature of New Press Bill." (BBC Summary 26 Aug. 2000/NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1998. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1997. 1997. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1995-1996. 1996. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1994-1995. 1995. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1991. 1991. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited By Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK.

Radio Nacional de Angola [Luanda, in Portuguese]. 15 March 1996. "Angola: UNITA Leader Savimbi Says He Could be 'Far More Useful' Outside the Cabinet." (BBC Summary 17 Mar. 1996/NEXIS)

_____. 31 August 1995. "Angola; Five Parties From Patriotic Front Coalition." (BBC Summary 2 Sept. 1995/NEXIS)

_____. 3 February 1995. "Angola; Justice Minister Criticizes US Human Rights Report as 'Interference'." (BBC Summary 6 Feb. 1995/NEXIS)

RTP Internacional Television [Lisbon, in Portuguese]. 20 March 2001. "Angolan Opposition Calls on Russia to Control Arms Exports to Angola." (FBIS-AFR-2001-0321 20 Mar. 2001/WNC)

_____. 14 November 2000. "Angola: Democratic Liberal President on Amnesty Speech, Elections." (FBIS-AFR-2000-1115 14 Nov. 2000/WNC)

_____. 18 July 2000. "Angola: Peace Congress Aimed at Ending War Underway in Luanda." (FBIS-AFR-2000-0719 18 July 2000/WNC)

South African Press Association (SAPA). 12 August 2000. "Angola Opposition Parties in Talks to Unite Against MPLA." (NEXIS)

Televisao Popular de Angola [Luanda, in Portuguese]. 6 April 1994. "Fourteen Political Parties Form Opposition Front; Issue Statement of Aims." (BBC Summary 9 Apr. 1994/NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 27 October 1994. "International Community Urged to Supervise Implementation of Angolan Peace Accord." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 July 1994. "Angolan Liberal and Democratic Party Optimistic With Peace Talks." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 October 1992. "Angolan Parliamentary Election Results, Seats for Parties." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential. [London]. Biweekly. 1992-1993, January 2000 - February 2001.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. Monthly. 1992-1994, January 2000 - February 2001.

Amnesty International Report 1994-1995

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993-1994.

Human Rights Watch World Report 1994-1995.

IRB databases

LEXIS-NEXIS

REFWORLD

Resource Centre. Angola country file. January 2000 - April 2001.

_____. Angola: Amnesty International country file. January 2001 - April 2001.

World News Connection (WNC)

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